"Microsoft has been furiously ripping out legacy code in Windows 8 that would have enabled third parties to bring back the Start button, Start Menu, and other software bits that could have made this new OS look and work like its predecessor. In fact, I've seen that several well-known UI hacks that worked fine with the Windows 8 Consumer Preview are no longer functional in the coming Release Preview. And those with hopes that Microsoft would allow businesses, at least, to boot directly to the desktop should prepare for disappointment. That feature not only isn't happening, it's being removed from Windows Server 12 (Windows 8's stable mate) as well." When you buy a new machine later this year, you will use Metro, an environment wholly inferior, incomplete, and not at all ready to replace the traditional desktop in any way, shape, or form. Whether you like it or not.

"I cannot get my head around why they seem so hell-bent on destroying the desktop."

We called it a while back, in order to coerce users into a restricted walled garden that nobody wants, they need to make using the windows desktop a gnashing experience for everyday use. Well, all the MS R&D is finally paying off; mission accomplished! How about it folks, let's give microsoft a well deserved round of applause.

I cannot get my head around why they seem so hell-bent on destroying the desktop.

To me it seems like management at Microsoft is panicking because of their inability so far to compete in the tablet and phone market. While these devices do eat away considerable market share from general computing devices like PCs and laptops their number will remain massive and many people do not want to abandon them. So they are mistaken to destroy the desktop which is still by far their biggest income source.

Tablets will not go away anymore as they are useful for passively consuming information. But the hype will diminish somewhat in the future in my opinion as creating stuff will remain important and that absolutely sucks on tablets and Windows 8 Metro interface.

That is simple friend, you see for the vast majority X86 has gone from "good enough" to "insanely overpowered' so there is no reason to replace an X86 desktop or lap until it dies, whereas ARM is having a mini MHz War and units get tossed as soon as the contract is up. that translates into more sales...if only someone wanted WinPhone.

For nearly a decade we saw MSFT turn smartphones into teeny tiny desktops, completely with itty bitty start buttons...it failed horribly. So now Ballmer has it in his head if he does it backwards, if he makes the Zune/WinPhone UI the desktop that he can 'force" the consumer to learn to like WinPhone...won't work. the desktop is a completely different animal than a cell phone, and trying to shoehorn a cell phone UI onto a desktop is just as big a fail as squeezing itty bitty desktops onto smart phones.